Multi-pin game device



July 31, 1956 R. M. SCHMITT 2,757,004

MULTI-PIN GAME: DEVICE v Filed Aug. so, 1952 5015)/ l4%/ We 2e /6 IN VEN TOR. /Posf MAR/f scf/,w77

United States Patent() MULTI-PIN yGAME DEVICE Rose Marie Schmitt, North Bergen, N. J.

Application August 30, 1952, Serial No. 307,255

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-133) This invention relates to improvements in puzzles, games and amusement devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game, puzzle and amusement device in which there is a major body or matrix which is engageable selectively with a plurality of gaming indicia means according to one or more initial dispersion arrangements or patterns, and in which, in one form of gameor puzzle, individual gaming indicia are removed from said engagement with the major body or matrix one at a time, immediately following interaction with at least one other of said gaming indicia, until ultimately the number of said gaming indicia remaining in engagement with said matrix s reduced to a predetermned number or quantity of at least one gaming indicia.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game, puzzle, and amusement device wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in a major body or matrix, with gaming indicia removably engaging a predetermined percentage of said apertures, the gaming indicia and apertures being formed according to a novel construction, for ease in engagement and removal, and for convenience in selective location of specific gaming indicia in selected apertures in said matrix.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game, puzzle and amusement device and the construction thereof, in which a plurality of recesses or sockets are formed in a novel base or matrix in a novel pattern and arrangement of columns and rows, each of the sockets being adapted to have inserted therein a portion of a removable gaming index member, the pattern of the gaming device being such that upon commencement of the game,V in one preferred form of the invention, at least one of the sockets is emptied of its gaming index member at the start of thegame, and

in which, as a preferred form of the invention, successively, other individual gaming index-members are -removed upon jumping across them by other gamingindex members from one socket to another, in directions which are other than diagonal, so that ultimately, a single gaming index member remains ina single socket,v the orientation of the socket and the remaining gaming index member determining the degree to which the player has Won the game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved gaming device, puzzle and amusement device, in which the matrix sockets andremovable gaming index members are constructed for mutual interaction and cooperation, so that accidental removal ofa gaming index member from a socket is substantially avoided and rendered impracticable. v v

Still another object of the invention is tov provide a novel and improved puzzle, game and amusement device which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, highly eifective for its intended purpose, attractive in appearance, and both educational and amusing for the players.

This application is a continuation-impart of my Ycoi 2,157,004 Patented July 31, 1 956 2 pending patent application, Serial No. 219,081, filed April 3, 1951, for Multi-Pin Transposition Game and Puzzle Device, and nowabandoned.

The foregoing and other objects yand advantages of the invention will become apparent `from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure l is a top plan view of my novel gaming and puzzle device, with all but one of the sockets occupied by removable game index members as at the commencement of one preferred form of game.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on the non-uniform plane lines 3 3 of Figure l, and indicating one form of initial gaming move of a game index member from one socket into the central initially unoccupied socket.

Figure 4 is a perspectivefragmentary view of a modied form of the gamingr device shown in Figure l, illustrating the use of sockets and removable game index members which are other than round in cross section, being substantially oval in cross section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryv top plan view partly sectioned on plane below the level of the top surface thereof, ot' the device shown in Figure 4, showing some oval pegs removed from so-me of the sockets, the sockets being likewise oval in cross section as seen in the View.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view showing one of the oval cross sectioned gaming devices or pegs as held in the hand.

Figure 7 is a` fragmentary side elevational view of a peg according to the invention, viewing its tab edgewise.

Figure 7A is a left side elevational view of the peg of Figure 7, as seen on plane 7A-7A of Figure 77 showing a numeral on that face of the tab exposed to view-therein.

Figure 7B is a right sideelevational view of the peg of Figure 7, as seen on'plane 7B-7B of Figure 7, showing an identifying alphabetical letter visible on that face of the same tab exposed to view therein.

In the manufacture of puzzles and games of all sorts, the objective to be attained must be kept in mind at all times. Thus the game must be a challenge of some sort to the mind of the players, to give them the necessary stimulus which will excite their attention, and make them concentrate to the necessary degree upon completing or winning the game. Where the various factors thus mentioned have been considered by the game and puzzle manufacturer, the resulthas a good likelihood of being a game which is a constant challenge and invitation to the players to try their skill and luckin playing the game or solving the puzzle, or both. As a'consequence, the player is so stimulatedon to complete the game, that he is not conscious of any outside influence which might otherwise disturb his concentration, and is able to focus his entire attention on the playing of the game. The result is that the player is able to divert his attention from his daily 'cares and troubles, and obtain a high degree of relaxationwhile playing thegame or solving the puzzle.

The present invention provides a Vgame and puzzle which is admirably calculated to do this very thing, and in addition to provide a constant source of amusement both tothe players and to the spectators. ln order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in *which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a major housing or matrix body 10 with upper and/lower surfaces 12 and 14 defining areas delineated by the confining border edges such as those shown at 16, 18, 20 and 22. The border edges 16 to 22 are shown by way of example only, as plane surfaces intersecting with each other, but it will be understood that other surfaces may be employed, such as curved ones. In other words, though the major matrix body is shown substantially in the form of a rectangle when viewed in plan as in Figure 1, it will be understood that it may be shaped otherwise than a rectangle, in modified forms of the invention, the rectangular shape being the preferred form.

The major matrix body 10 is supported above the table top 24 or other surface, upon depending legs or posts 26, 28, 30 and 32 which may be of any suitable construction for this purpose. As illustrative of one example of their construction, it is seen that each of the legs or posts such as leg 30, may have a frusto-conical leg body portion 36 which narrows down or converges upwardly and integrates with a collar 38, and is then reduced thereabove to form an upstanding peg top or extension 40 which is inserted snugly and securely inside a downwardly open socket or recess 42 formed in the undersurface 14 of the major matrix body 10, there being four such sockets 42, to accommodate the four legs or posts 26, 28, 30 and 32 respectively. It is seen that the undersurface 14 may be thus elevated at a substantial distance above the table top 24 where desired. For ease in storage and shipping, however, the support posts such as 30 may be made so that they are merely in frictional engagement with the openings or sockets 42, and easily withdrawn or inserted by hand force, being used as desired. The legs such as 30 may be made of any suitable materials, such as wood, plastics, or rubber-like materials, or even metal.

In the upper surface 12 of the major matrix body 10, I form a number of sockets or upwardly open recesses 50 which in this form of the invention are cylindrical in contour and extend downwards for a substantial depth as illustrated in Figure 3. As shown best in Figure 1, I form the sockets 50 in a number of horizontal rows such as 90, 92 and 93 which intersect with a number of vertical rows or columns such as 94, 95 and 96. Thus there are shown three horizontal rows of sockets 50 intersecting with three vertical columns of sockets 50, so that there are nine such sockets in the middle which are common to both the three rows and the three columns. At the same time it is seen that there are four groups of nine such sockets 50 at locations generally indicated as locations 100, 101, 102 and 103, which thus form the extensions of what appears to be roughly a cross-shaped pattern as seen in Figure l. These groups 100, 101, 102 and 103 may be designated as the outer groups of sockets, while the middle group which is common to both the horizontal rows and the vertical columns may be designated as the inner group or middle group of sockets.

I provide game indexing members 104 which have construction suitable to enable them to be seated in the sockets 50 when grasped in the hand. Thus, where the sockets 50 are cylindrical, the shanks of the indexing or game members 104, as shown at 106, are also cylindrical so as to t into the sockets. The indexing pins 104 have substantially elongated shanks 106, so that they project a substantial distance above the upper surface 12 of the game board or matrix 10. At the top they are preferably formed with integral tabs 108 bymeans of which they are easily grasped between the fingers in the manner shown in Figure 3, for being lifted out of one socket and placed in another, or for being jumped out of the matrix 10.

The tabs 108 may be sufficiently large in area, or even serrated, so that a firm grasp may be obtained on the pins to enable them to be pulled out of the sockets 50 without dropping them. By this means, the pins 104 may have their Shanks 106 proportioned with a snug tit in relation to the sockets 50, if desired, especially for those players who are gifted with a heavy hand grasp, and further, the pulling of the pins out of their sockets under such circumstances of snug fit, will cause them to come out with a snap or audible sound, due to the vacuum created in the sockets as the pins are pulled upwards out of their sockets 50.

This heightens the liveliness of the game and makes for considerable player and audience interest. It has a stimulation potential somewhat analogous to the snapping of the cards oy the players in a card game, as they deal out cards, shuffle, or throw them down on the table, and it is well known what a considerable appreciation card players have for a new deck which still has its original inherent snap and resilience.

It will be noted that I place one such game member or pin 1.04 in each of the sockets 50 except the innermost socket S0, which bears the socket notation 45 additionally in Figures 1 and 3. In order to play the game, it is necessary to pull out a pin 104 which is once removed from the central socket 4S, such as for example, the pin located in socket 18, and jump it across intervening pin in socket 41 in the manner shown in Figure 3, so as to deposit the pin in central socket 45. The moves are made either in horizontal or vertical directions, that is, in rows or columns, but not diagonally.

A typical game may now be carried out step by step to show how it may be successfully completed. Assuming that all the sockets 50 are occupied by pins except the centermost socket bearing the notation 45 without lead line, the game may now proceed. First, the pin in socket 9 is lifted up, jumped across pin in socket 43 y which is then discarded, and jumped into central socket 45. That is, the pin which was in socket 9 is now in central socket 45, and intervening socket 43 is empty, as is socket 9. Then the pin in socket 13 is lifted out and jumped to socket 43, the pin in socket 42 being discarded, so that sockets 13 and 42 are also vacant.

The player may now jump the pin in socket 15 to vacant socket 13, discarding the intermediate pin, and then jump the pin in socket 19 to vacant socket 15, also discarding the intermediate pin. Next he may jump the pin in socket 20 to vacant socket 14, discarding the intermediate pin, and then jump the pin in socket 14 to socket 42, discarding the intermediate pin. Having done this he may then jump the pin in socket 21 to vacant socket 13, discarding the intermediate pin, and then jump the pin in socket 42 to vacant socket 14, discarding the intermediate pin, and subsequently jump the pin in socket 15 to vacant socket 13.

He may then jump the pin in socket 11 to the vacant socket 42, discarding the intermediate pin, and then jump the pin in socket 5 to vacant socket 11. In each case, it will be understood that even though not mentioned, a pin may only be jumped to a vacant socket once removed from an occupied socket, and only across an occupied socket, so that the intermediate pin is always discarded, leaving the intermediate socket vacant. We then may jump the pin in socket 12 to vacant socket 10, and jump the pin in socket 6 to vacant socket 12, followed by jumping the pin in socket 42 to vacant socket 11. Then we may jump the pin in socket 12 to vacant socket 10, jump the pin in socket 44 to vacant socket 42, and jump the pin in socket 13 to vacant socket 43, discarding the intermediate pins in each jump.

Next the player may jump the pin in socket 2 to vacant socket 44, jump the pin in socket 32 to vacant socket 2, and the pin in socket 1, to vacant socket 3, followed by jumping the pin in socket 33 to vacant socket 1. After this he may jump the pin in socket 44 to vacant socket 2, and follow this by jumping the pin in socket 1 to vacant socket 3, in all cases discarding the intermediate He or she may then jump as follows, in the order shown in the following table:

.T ump Pin in Vacant Socket No. To Socket No.

In this manner, it is seen that the last move of the pin in socket 36 to vacant socket 45 which is the centermost socket, has resulted in discarding the pin in intermediate socket 37, so that now there is only a pin in central socket 45, all other sockets on the board being unoccupied, and the game is completed and won. It will be understood of course, that this is only illustrative of one form of game which might be played on this apparatus and one mode of playing such a game, and that other modes of playing the game may be employed, or other sequences of moves of the various pins with relation to sockets and other pins. Further, the playing of the game is enhanced in excitement, since the player, not knowing or bearing in mind a perfect game as set forth above, will likely at any time find himself or herself in a spot where he or she is unable to make a further move, and thus loses the game through such a stalemate.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it is seen that there is a modified form of the invention, characterized especially by the fact that the Shanks 106b of the pins 104b, are not round or cylindrical as they were in Figures l to 3, but rather are substantially or completely oval in cross section. They thus t into sockets 50b which are also not round or cylindrical as in Figures 1 to 3, but rather are also oval to match the Shanks of the pins. The board 20b is otherwise similar to that shown in Figure 1, and has legs such as 28b and 30b, at each corner. By making the pins and sockets oval, it is possible to orientate their tabs 108b in either of two desired directions, so as to be visible from a single direction, to identify any particular tab, which may be marked with numerals on one side, as at 107 in Figures 7 and 7A, and marked with alphabetical letters such as shown at 105 in Figures 7 and 7B, or with Roman numerals, or with symbols or suitable ornamentation or illustrations, or other indicia, or colors, and they may also be deiferentially orientated, in selected groups, so as to be visible in those groups only from any given point. By use of the oval shank pins, it is simple for the player to insert them correctly in suitable orientation in any particular socket, since they must be either placed one way, or turned 180 degrees therefrom to engage the socket. Similarly, to further enhance the playing possibilities of the game, the sockets which are oval in cross section, may all be disposed so that their major axes are mutually parallel, or so that a portion of them have their major axes mutually parallel, while another portion of them have their major axes all perpendicular to the major axes of the other group, so that any particular player may see the face surfaces such as 107 or 105 of some of the tabs, and only the edges of the other tabs, being concerned with the tabs in any particular playing pattern, with considerable variation being possible. The arrangement may also be such that several players may play the game at the same time, making their moves in any predetermined sequence of player activity, and team play may also be arranged, with say, one or more players on each team.

It will be understood that wherever herein, it is mentioned that the dimensions of the socket recesses such as and the Shanks of the gaming members such as 104, 10417, etc. are such as to provide a snug iit, that such it is not so close as to block easy insertion and withdrawal of the shanks of the gaming members or pins relative to the socket recesses, some degree of air leakage being always present, with suicient looseness for that purpose. However, they are preferably so dimensioned that upon a sharp or rapid pull of a gaming member shank out of a recess, a sharp audible sound is heard as the air rushes into the vacuum drawn in the recess by withdrawal of the shank of the gaming member.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that variations may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A gaming device comprising a major matrix means formed with a massive body having substantial thickness and defined top and bottom surfaces, and having a plurality of discrete recesses of substantial depth and oval in section formed in said top and spaced from said bottom surface, said pattern of discrete recesses being disposed and arranged in a plurality of mutually intersecting rows and columns of recesses, a plurality of gaming indicia each formed with a shank oval in section and constructed and 'arranged for snug interfitting engagement with said discrete recesses upon being inserted therein, and precluding mutual turning motion therebetween while so interlitted, a tab carried at one end of each said shank, said tab being provided with opposite dissimilarly marked tab faces carrying identifying indicia and markings, whereby differential orientation thereof permits plural different gaming procedures with one set of tabs, said gaming indicia being constructed and arranged for being pulled out of their said discrete recesses according to any desired pattern of playing of the player, whereby and whereupon they may be jumped over intervening occupied discrete recesses and inserted into those recesses once removed, so that the gaming indicia occupying the intervening jumped-over recess may be discarded, and whereby a game may be played.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,990 Lundstedt Nov. 24, 1885 689,783 Boughner Dec. 24, 1901 1,033,422 Langley July 23, 1912 1,068,449 Reeder July 29, 1913 1,421,656 Abele July 4, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,249 Great Britain lune 12, 1935 

